GB2135867A - Bracket furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding furniture item includes a panel (10), one location (at least) of which is directly articulated to a slide running in a wall mounted vertical channel (21), and another location (at least) of which is indirectly articulated to a further slide via a strut (12); each slide being clampable to the channel at any desired location, whereby differential adjustment of the slides adjusts the inclination of the panel and simultaneous coordinated movement of the slides adjusts the height of the panel. At the maximum possible separation of the slides the panel is closely stowed in a vertical position against the channel. The panel may be a work surface, shelf, or bed base. It may have a hinged flap along its front outer edge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in folding furniture Field of the invention This invention relates to a folding furniture assem biy, in particular furniture having a panel which normally stores flat against a wall and is hingedly movable out from its stored position into a working position.

Object of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide a folding furniture panel which does not necessitate a recess in the wall to which it is mounted and which can have more than one working position, enabling the panel to be used for alternative purposes.

The invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a folding furniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, slides movable up and down on the uprights, a furniture panel articulated to the slides, and means for locating the slides in at least one position providing a working position for the panel, the slides also being movable to a position in which the panel lies vertically substantially in the plane of the uprights.

The furniture panel in question can be, more especially, a table top or desk top, a kitchen or like work surface, a shelf or a bed base.

Especially in the case of a shelf or bed base, the outer edge of the panel remote from the wall in the working position or positions, may have a front lip or flap. The lip or flap, which may be hinged to the main area of the panel so as to be locatable relative thereto in differing angular relationships, e.g. coplanar relationship, right-angled relationship or inclined relationship, may serve for various purposes. For example, when in coplanar relationship, it may serve as an optional extension of the surface of the panel or, when is non-coplanar relationship, it may serve as edge retainer for items on the panel or, when the main portion of the panel is vertically flat against the wall, as an optional narrow shelf or support.

The same uprights can, of course, support more than one folding panel, one above the other, such as two folding bunk bed bases. The lower of such bases may be such that it can find alternative use as a desk top or table top. Alternatively, a permanently fixed upper bunk bed may have a folding furniture panel mounted beneath it, for alternative use as a desk or table top or a second bunk bed base.

The surface of the furniture panel may be of a material such that, in the folded back position against the wall, the then vertical surface can serve as a notice board or the like. Such an arrangement may be especially convenient in the educational environment, where a line of supplementary foldable table tops or desk tops may, when not in use, serve as a display board or notice board.

It is an important advantage of the invention that the furniture panel can be stored away without requiring a recess in the wall. The uprights and slides to which the panel is articulated provide a simple but efficient mounting means enabling the invention to be applied to an existing wall, without necessitating structural alterations.

The versatiiity of the folding panel assembly is also a substantial advantage. It is possible to arrange for the slides to be locatable in at least two differing positions providing alternative working positions for the furniture panel, whereby the panel can alternatively serve, for example, as a flat table top or an inclined desktop.

Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a folding furniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, slides movable up and down on said uprights, a furniture panel articulated to said slides, and means for locating the slides in at least two differing positions providing alternative working positions for the panel, the slides also being movable to a position in which the panel lies vertical substantially in the plane of the uprights.

The slides may be clampable in any chosen position on the uprights or locatable in selected positions thereon. In either case, two or more working positions will be availabie for the panel, such as a table top. These differing working positions may be positions in which the panel is located horizontally at differing heights and/or positions in which the panel is located at one or more differing angles of inclination, thereby to enable its use as a desk or drawing board.

In a preferred embodiment the panel has hinged struts articulated to a crosspiece which slides on the uprights. The crosspiece and struts preferably support the panel from below. The rear of the panel is also slidable on the uprights, preferably by means of a cross-piece fixed across the rear of the panel. Thus, by selective adjustment of the heights of the two crosspieces, the panel can be stored flat or located in any one of a number of working positions in which said panel is horizontal at a chosen level or has a chosen inclination at a chosen level. In the preferred arrangement, when at least one of the clamping or locating means is released, the panel may automatically drop into its stored position, the weight of the panel causing the appropriate slide or slides to move on the upright.

The uprights may be hollow, longitudinally slotted tubes or bars such as channel section members, the slides being trapped within the tubes or bars and having pins projecting therefrom through the longitudinal slots, the panel or associated crosspieces being carried by these pins. The pins may be screwthreaded to receive a clamping element such as an internally threaded knurled knob, wing nut or tommy bar. Alternatively, however, the slides may be a tight friction fit in the upright tubes or bars, in which case it may be possible to dispense with the clamping means, dependent on the intended purpose of the panel in use, and in particular the weight or pressure it may be required to withstand in a working position.It is also possible to provide the slides with releasable locating means, e.g. manually operable detents, which engage into corresponding locations such as grooves or notches.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a furniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, a plurality of sets of slides movable up and down said uprights, a furniture panel carried by at least one set of said slides and at least one accessory for the panel carried by at least one other slide so as to be independently adjustable relative to the panel.

The accessory or accessories may be such items as a pen/pencil holder mounted on one upright only, or an overhead light fitment bridging two or more uprights centrally above the panel, e.g. a table top. A pen/pencil holder would be a typical accessory item to be slidable into a convenient position on one or more of the uprights when the table top is adjusted to an inclined position to enable its use as a desk or draughtsman's or artist's board. An adjustable light fitment will also often be useful in association with a drawing board. However, the accessory items referred to are by way of example only; various other items may be provided for use in association with the table top or other panel when the latter is in a horizontal or inclined working position.

A primary advantage of the panel of the invention is that it can provide multipurpose facilities in a confined space such as an engineering workshop, a small artist's studio or any other room of small size, but will fold flat back against the wall to maximise the space available for other purposes when said panel is not in use.

Description ofembodiment Afurniture panel assembly in accordance with the invention is exemplified by the following description, making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2and 3 are pictorial views showing a folding table top assembly in two differing working positions and a storage or closed position; Figures 4Ato 4E illustrate the manner of operation of the assembly diagrammatically; Figure 5 shows one possible type of fitment for mounting the table top and/or accessories; Figures 6Aand 6B show possible alternative mounting fitments; and Figure 7 shows an alternative usage of the furniture panel.

Figure 1 shows a table top assembly in a first working position in which the table top 10 is horizontal. It is supported by hinged struts 12 articulated to a lower crosspiece 14. The rear of the table top has hinged to tan uppercrosspiece 16.

The two cross-pieces 14, 16 are carried by respective pairs of slides which move on upright supports 18, 20 mounted on a wall 21. The slides are, in Figure 1, so located on the uprights that the table top 10 is horizontal.

In Figure 2, the slides are located in such positions on the uprights 18, 20 that the table top 10 is inclined for use as a drawing board, for example.

In Figure 3, the folding table top assembly is shown in its storage or closed position in which the slides are so located that the table top 10 lies flat against the wall 21, generally in the plane of the upright supports 18, 20.

Reverting to Figure 1, also shown are an overhead light fitment 22 and a pencil holder 24, also vertically adjustable by means of slides carried by the uprights 18,20. The pencil holder, which in Figure 2 has been detached, is carried by one upright only.

Figures 4A to 4E show the manner of operation of the table top assembly in a diagrammatic manner.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two working positions of the table top 10 in which it is horizontal; Figures 4C and 4D illustrate two alternative inclined working positions, and Figure 4E shows the storage position.

Reference 25 denotes hinges. Three pairs of slides and one single slide are necessary to support the folding table top 10, the fluorescent light fitment 22 and the pencil holder 24, respectively. For convenience these slides are diagrammatically depicted at 30,32 (for the table top) 34 (for the light fitment 22) and 36 (for the pencil holder 24). The relative positions of these slides 30 and 36 in the five figures show the manner in which the assembly is adjustable.

Figure 5 shows one possible form of mounting fitment. Each upright, for convenience referenced 38, comprises a longitudinally slotted tube, e.g.

extruded of aluminium, fixing to the wall by means of screws such as that shown at 40. The slide, for convenience generally referenced 42, comprises a dowel peg of wood or an injection mounted peg 44 which carries a screwthreaded pin 46. The peg 44 is housed within the tubular upright 38 with the pin 46 protruding through the longitudinal slot 45. Reference 48 denotes the item, e.g. supporting crosspiece of the table top, to be carried by the slide. It is releasably mounted to the screwthreaded pin 46 at aperture 47 in the item by means such as a washer 48 and internally threaded knurled knob 50. Figure 5 also serves to show that a wing nut 52 or a tommy bar 54 can be used instead of the knurled knob 50.

The knob 50 or its equivalent constitutes a clamping means which not only attaches the item 48 to the slide 42, but also, when tightened, draws the peg 44 tightly against the inside of the tubular upright 38, thereby to fix the vertical position of the slide along the upright. When the clamp is released, the vertical position of the slide can be adjusted. If freely released, the table top will automatically collapse to its storage or closed position.

Figures 6A and 6B show two alternative mounting fitments in which the slide is a tight friction fit in a channel section upright 62, e.g. of extruded aluminium. For this purpose, the slide 60 may be an injection moulded friction slide 60A or a spring steel clip 60B. Clamping means will still preferably be provided, but may not be essential if a very tight friction fit is employed. The latter, however, will render the assembly more difficult to adjust. However, the clamping means could be replaced by manually operable spring detents operable between the uprights and the slides.

Figure 7 shows an alternative usage of the folding furniture panel of this invention, wherein two panels are mounted one above the other, on the same uprights, for optional use as bunk beds.

The two panels 70,72 are in this case each provided with a hinged front lip or flap 74,76, respectively, which can each be located, as by means of detents, locating pins and holes, or possibly even tight friction, at differing angles relative to the plane of the main portion of the panel.

In Figure 7, the upper panel 70 is shown in a position to serve as a bunk bed base, with its lip 74 folded up to serve as a retainer for bed clothes, whilst the lower panel is shown in a position to serve as an inclined desk top, with the lip 76 located coplanar with the main portion of the panel to provide an extension of its working surface. Alternatively, of course, the lip 76 could be at least partially folded up to an inclined position to serve as a retainer for pencils and the like.

The panel 70 can be folded back to be flat against the wall when the bunk is not in use, if desired, whilst if desired the panel 72 can be folded back against the wall when the bunk bed is in use.

Furthermore, if desired, the lower panel 72 can be moved to a horizontal position, either to serve as a flat table top (the lip 76 being horizontal) or to serve as a second bunk bed (the lip 76 being folded up).

Both panels 70,72 can be folded back against the wall if maximum room space is desired.

In any of the above-described arrangements, the surface of the panel exposed when the said panel (or panels) is folded back against the wall may be formed of a material, or the panel may be surfaced by a material, which readily enables the surface to be used as a display board or notice board. Any other surfacing suited to a special purpose, either when the panel is in its working position or when it is folded back against the wall, may be provided.

Various modifications of the above-described arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims (18)

1. Afolding furniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, slides movable up and down on the uprights, a furniture panel articulated to the slides, and means for locating the slides in at least one position providing a working position for the panel, the slides also being movable to a position in which the panel lies vertically substantially in the plane of the uprights.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slides are clampable in alternative chosen positions on the uprights.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel has hinged struts articulated to a crosspiece which slides on the uprights.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the rear of the panel is also slidable on the uprights by means of a crosspiece.

5. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when the clamping or locating means is released, the panel automatically drops to its stored position flat against the wall in the plane of the uprights.

6. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the uprights are hollow, longitudinally slotted tubes or bars such as channel section members, the slides being trapped within the tubes or bars and having pins projecting therefrom through the longitudinal slots, the panel or associated crosspieces being carried by these pins.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the pins are screwthreaded to receive a clamping element such as an internally threaded knurled knob, wing nut or tommy bar.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the panel is a table top, desk top, shelf or bed base.

9. A folding furniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, slides movable up and down on said uprights, a furniture panel articulated to said slides, and means for locating the slides in at least two differing positions providing alternative working positions for the panel, the slides also being movable to a position in which the panel lies vertical substantially in the plane of the uprights.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, arranged such that the panel can be stored flat or located in any one of a number of working positions in which said panel is horizontal at a chosen level or has a chosen inclination at a chosen level.

11. An assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the panel is a table top or desk top.

12. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the panel is surfaced to provide a display board or notice board in its folded back position in the plane of the uprights.

13. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the panel includes a lip or flap along its outer front edge.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the lip or flap is hinged to the main portion of the panel.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the hinged lip or flap is alternatively locatable in differing angular relationships to the main portion of the panel.

16. Afurniture panel assembly comprising supporting uprights for securing to a wall, a plurality of sets of slides movable up and down said uprights, a furniture panel carried by at least one set of said slides and at least one accessory for the panel carried by at least one other slide so as to be independently adjustable relative to the panel.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein the accessory is mounted to only one upright of the uprights supporting the panel.

18. A folding furniture panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.