GB2137488A - Furniture unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A desk unit 1 has a desk top 2, a back panel 3 and at least one side panel 6 which are movable between a folded position in which they lie in planes parallel to one another and an erected position of the desk unit in which they are in planes mutually at right angles to one another. A self-pivoting displacement flap 8 secures the side panel 6 to the desktop 2, and hinges 4 secure the back panel 3 to the desktop 2, in such manner that the adjacent surfaces of the desk top 2, the back panel 3 and the side panel 6 lie in close contact with one another in the folded position. The desk unit 1 also includes a retractable fixing element for securing the back panel 3 to the side panel 6 in the erected position, and the self-pivoting displacement flap 8 includes a screw 22 for locking the side panel 6 in the erected position. The self-pivoting displacement flap 8 further includes a member with a curved inclined wall mating with the curved inclined wall 26 of a cut-out portion of the flap for distributing the weight of the desktop 2 and articles placed on it throughout the side panel 6 in the erected position of the desk unit 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture unit This invention relates to a furniture unit and more particularly to a furniture unit which includes three planar members which are in planes mutually at right angles to one another when the furniture unit is in use.

A particular example of such a furniture unit is a desk unit of the type used in offices which conventionally includes a desktop, a back panel and at least one side panel. Another example of such a furniture unit is the framework of a cupboard or a hanging space for clothes, the framework comprising a back, a top and at least one side portion.

A difficulty arises in the transportation of such furniture units because of the volume which the furniture units occupy, which results in the transportation of such units in the erected condition being expensive. In order to reduce the volume occupied by such furniture units they are commonly supplied in the form of separate component parts which are then assembled on site. However, the assembly of such furniture units from separate components can be time consuming and difficult for an unskilled person, while the use of skilled persons to assemble the furniture units on site inevitably increases their cost.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and to provide a furniture unit which occupies a minimum volume during transportation and which is erectable on site with a minimum of difficulty.

According to the present invention there is provided a furniture unit which comprises first, second and third planar members each of which is secured to at least one of the other members and which is foldable between an erected condition and a folded condition, the first, second and third planar members being in planes mutually at right angles to one another in the erected condition of the unit and lying in planes parallel to one another in the folded condition of the unit.

Preferably the furniture unit is a desk unit in which, in the erected condition of the unit, the first, second and third planar members constitute respectively a desk top, a back panel and a side panel. In the folded condition of the desk unit the side panel may lie between the desk top and the back panel, but in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is the back panel which lies between the desk top and the side panel in the folded condition.

A desk unit in accordance with the present invention may be a main desk unit or a typing desk unit.

When the desk unit of the present invention is a main desk unit it preferably includes a fourth planar member which in the erected condition of the unit constitutes a second side panel, the third and fourth planar members constituting the two side panels lying in the same plane in the folded condition of the unit with part of the surface of each side panel adjacent to a part of a surface of the back panel.

When the desk unit according to the present invention is a typing desk unit it may consist of only three planar members, the typing desk unit being an extension for connection to a main desk unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which will be described herein there is provided a foldable desk unit comprising a desk top, a back panel secured to the desk top by a plurality of hinges such that the back panel is movable relative to the desk top from a position in which the back panel is substantially perpendicular to the desk top to a position in which the back panel is substantially parallel to the desk top, and at least one side panel secured to the desk top buy a plurality of self-pivoting displacement flaps such that the side panel may be moved from a position in which the side panel is perpendicular to both the desktop and the back panel to a position in which the side panel is parallel to both the desk top and the back panel and is spaced from the desk top by the back panel.

Most advantageously the desk unit of the present invention further comprises retractable fixing elements secured to the back panel, each retractable fixing element including a pivotally mounted arm movable between a position in which the arm lies within the thickness of the back panel and a position in which the arm is perpendicular to the back panel for fixing the back panel to the side panel in a position where the back panel is perpendicular to both the desk top and the side panel.

Other features of the present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which is made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a desk unit according to the invention in the folded condition, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the portion of the desk unit of Figure 1 enclosed within the broken circular line of that Figure, the view of Figure 2 being a cross-section taken on the line A-A of Figure 4, Figure 3 is a side view of the desk unit of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of the desk unit of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a front view of the desk unit of Figure 1 in a partially erected position, Figure 6 is a smaller scale front view of the desk unit according to Figure 1 in the erected condition, Figure 7 is a plan view of the desk unit of Figure 6, Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a desk unit of the previous Figures in the erected condition and taken along the line B-B of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a retractable fixing element in its retracted position on a back panel taken along the line C-C of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view also taken along the line C-C of Figure 8 of the retractable fixing element in operation to fix the back panel in relation to a side panel, Figure ii is a cross-sectional view of a preferred hinge taken along the line D-D of Figure 8, Figure 12 is a part cross-sectional view of the desk unit of the previous Figures in the erected condition and taken along the line E-E of Figure 6, Figures 13 and 74 are front and plan views similar to Figures 6 and 7 of an alternative embodiment of desk unit according to the present invention in the erected condition, Figures 15 and 16 are front and plan views of the desk unit of Figures 13 and 14 modified by the addition of a typing desk unit also in accordance with the present invention, Figure 17 is a sectional view of a typing desk unit according to the invention secured to the desk unit of Figures 13 and 14, the view of Figure 17 being taken along the line F-F of Figure 16, and Figures 18 and 19 are respectively front and side views of a desk drawer unit for use in conjunction with the desk unit of any of Figures 6 and 7, Figures 13 and 14 or Figures 15 and 16.

In the accompanying drawings the same or similar parts are designated by like reference numerals.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a front view of one embodiment of a desk unit according to the present invention in the folded condition. The desk unit is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

In the folded condition shown in Figure 1 the desk unit has an uppermost planar member 2 which is the desktop, and immediately beneath the desktop 2 and parallel with it there is a second planar member 3 which is the back of the desk unit 1. The back panel 3 is secured to the desk top 2 by hinges which are preferably special folding elements 4. The desk unit 1 further includes two more planar members 6 and 7 which are side panels of the desk unit 1 and which, in the folded condition of the desk unit 1 shown in Figure 1, lie in the same plane as one another and in parallel with both the desk top 2 and the back panel 3. The side panels 6 and 7 are secured to the desk top 2 by self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9, as shown in more detail in Figure 2 in relation to the self-pivoting displacement flap 8.The self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 are similar and are themselves the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No. 8301917filed filed on the same day as the present application.

Parts of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 are further shown in Figure 3, which is a side view of the desk unit 1 in the folded condition seen from the lefthand side of Figure 1, and in Figure 4 which is a plan view of the desk unit 1.

Referring now to Figure 2, which is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 4, the self-pivoting displacement flap 8 consists of a first base member 11 which is located in a sunken position within the thickness of the side panel 6 and which is secured to the side panel 6 by screws 12. A first arm 13 of a right-angle member is mounted on a pivot pin 14 located near one end of a recess 15 within the first base member 11. A second arm 16 of the right-angle member is secured to a second base member 17 by a screw 18 which engages a screwholding member 19 floating within the second base member 17. The second base member 17 is itself located in a sunken position at the side edge of the desk top 2 and is secured to the desk top 2 by screws 20 of which one only is visible in Figure 2.

Both the base members 11 and 17 are additionally secured by screws (not shown) which pass through the upper surfaces of the base members.

The first base member 11 is formed with a bevelled edge 21 in orderto facilitate the locating of the first base member 11 in a cavity drilled in the side panel 6.

It will be observed that the first arm 13 of the right-angle member is of such a length that the desk top 2 and the side panel 6 are enabled to lie in planes parallel to one another but separated by a space sufficient to contain the back panel 3 lying in parallel with both the desk top 2 and the side panel 6.

Carried in the first arm 13 of the right-angle member is a screw 22 which is held in a screw thread in the first arm 13. The screw 22 is provided to engage in a screw thread 23 in the first base member when the desk unit 1 is in the erected condition, as will be described later.

The first arm 13 of the right-angle member of each self-pivoting displacement flap 8 or 9 is formed with a curved wider portion 25 as shown in Figure 3. The curved wider portion 25 has inclined walls so that the curved wall of the curved portion 25 is of greater radius on the side of the first arm 13 near to the edge of the back panel 3 than at the opposite side of the first arm 13. The recess 15 in the first base member 11 has a similar curved wider cutout region 26 (Figure 4) with an inclined curved wall shaped to receive the curved wider portion 25 of the first member 13 in the erected condition of the desk unit 1, as will be described.

The folded condition of the desk unit 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is the condition in which the desk unit 1 is packed and transported. It will be seen that in this folded condition the desk unit 1 occupies a minimum volume.

When the desk unit 1 is to be erected the first action is to move the two side panels 6 and 7 to the positions which they will occupy at right angles to the desktop 2 as shown in Figure 5. During the movement of the side panels 6 and 7 from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 5 the right-angle members of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 pivot on the pivot pins 14 (Figure 2) until the first arm 13 of the right-angle member of each displacement flap 8 or 9 is received within the recess 15 of the first base member 11 of the self-pivoting displacement flap.

When the side panels 6 and 7 have both been moved to their vertical position at right-angles to the desk top 2, the back panel 3 is free to pivot on folding elements 4 to its substantially vertical position in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the desk top 2 and to the planes of the side panel 6 and 7. The desk unit 1 is then essentially in the erected condition shown in front elevation in Figure 6 and in plan in Figure7.

The assembly of the desk unit 1 in the erected condition is completed by fixing the positions of the side panels 6 and 7 and the back panel 3 in relation to the desk top 2. In the preferred embodiments of the invention described herein this fixing is effected simply by the use of a screwdriverto locate respective screws which are provided in appropriate positions in the desk unit ready to be screwed into their operative positions in screw threads to renderthe desk unit entirely stable.

In order to secure the side panels 6 and 7 rigidly in planes at right-angles to the desk top 2, a screw 22 (Figure 2) in the first arm 13 of the right-angle member of each of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 is screwed into the corresponding screw thread 23 provided in the first base member 11. The screws 22 then prevent any pivoting movement of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9, and the side panels 6 and 7 are held rigidly at right-angles to the desk top 2.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the various planar members comprising the desk top 2, the back panel 3 and the side panels 6 and 7 are chipboard panels having suitable surface coatings of wood veneer or plastics materials. The exposed edges of the planar members 2,6 and 7 are also covered with a coating of plastics material 27 as shown in Figure 8 which is a much enlarged cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a desk unit 1 taken along the line B-B of Figure 7. In Figure 8 there are also shown the positions adopted by the first base member 11 and the second base member 17 ofthe respective self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 when the screws 22 have been secured in the screw threads 23, as described above, to make the structure of the desk top 2 and the side panels 6 and 7 rigid.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention which is being described, the final step in making the desk unit 1 rigid in its erected condition involves the use of retractable fixing elements 29 which are mounted on the back panel 3 as shown in Figure 8. The construction of the retractable fixing elements 29 is shown in more detail in Figures 9 and 10 which are cross-sections of one retractable fixing element 29 in its inoperative and operative positions, respectively, the cross-sections in both Figures 9 and 10 being taken along the line C-C of Figure 8.

The retractable fixing element 29 consists of a circular base member 30 which has a rectangular recess 31 running perpendicular to the plane of the side panel 6. A pivot pin 32 is located in the recess 31 near the end of the recess 31 adjacent to the side panel 6, and a pivot arm 33 is mounted on the pivot pin 32 for movement between its retracted position, as shown in Figure 9, and its operative position, as shown in Figure 10.

The pivot arm 33 carries, in a screw thread at its end remote from the pivot pin 32, a screw 34 which in its inoperative or rest position is contained entirely within the recess 31 as shown in Figure 9.

When the pivot arm 33 is moved to its operative position as shown in Figure 10, the screw 34 is screwed into a screw thread in a plastics collar 35 located in the side panel 6 to hold the panel 3 and the side panel 6 in fixed positions relative to one another.

The retractable fixing element 29 is itself the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No.

8301918 which is filed on the same day as the present application.

The especially compact nature of the desk unit 1 of the present invention in the folded condition is facilitated by a form of the folding element 4 which is the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No.

8301919 filed on the same day as the present application. The preferred form of folding element4 is shown in front view in Figure 8 and in crosssectional view in Figure 11 which is a section taken along the line D-D of Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 11 the special form of folding element 4 comprises two base members 37 and 38 which are respectively sunk into cavities in the back panel 3 and the desk top 2 and held in position by screws, of which one only is shown in Figure 11 in relation to base member 38, which is held by three screws whereas base member 37 is held by only two screws. A specially shaped link 39 is pivotally mounted at one end on a pivot pin 40 in a recess in the base member 38. The link 39 is also secured by a screw 41 in a recess in the base member 37.

The important feature of the shape of link 39 is that it is formed of two arm sections 42 and 43 which are parallel continuations of one another, both extending away from pivot pin 40. The two parallel arm sections 42 and 43 are laterally displaced so that the continuation of one arm section does not overlap the other arm section. Preferably the surface 44 of the arm section 42 and the surface 45 of arm section 43 are so formed that there is a small space between surface 44 and a continuation of surface 45 upwards in Figure 11.

The distinctive shape of the link 39 enables the arm section 43 to be secured by the screw 41 with the arm section 43 lying wholly within the recess in the base member 37 as shown in Figure 11. When the link 39 is pivoted through 900 from the position shown in Figure 11, the arm section 42 lies wholly within the recess in base member 38.

The use of the folding element 4 having the link 39 with the two arm sections 42 and 43 as described therefore enables the desk top 2 and the back panel 3 to lie in parallel with their adjacent surfaces very close to one another, thus occupying a volume almost as small as if the desk unit 2 and the back panel 3 were placed directly upon one another without there being any interconnection between them. Indeed perfect positioning of the base members 38 and 39 of all the folding elements 4 within the desk top 2 and the back panel 3 will enable the adjacent surfaces of the desk top 2 and the back panel 3 to be essentially in contact with one another.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the desk unit 1 of Figure 6 taken along the line E-E of that Figure, the view thus being at right angles to the view of Figure 8. In Figure 12 there may be seen the desk top 2, the back panel 3, the side panel 7, first base members 11 of two self-pivoting displacement flaps 9, a retractable fixing element 29 securing the back panel 3 to the side panel 7, and a folding element 4 with its link 39 extending between its base members 37 and 38.

In the erected condition of the desk unit 1, the desk top 2 is supported, through the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9, by the side panels 6 and 7 of the desk unit. As shown in Figure 12, in the erected condition of the desk unit 1, the curved wider portions 25 of the first arms 13 of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 9 are engaged in the corresponding curved wider portions of the recesses in base members 11 and held in that position by screws 22.

Consequently the curved inclined walls of the portions 25 of the first arms 13 mate with the curved inclined walls in the recesses 15 in the first base members 11. Therefore weight placed upon the desk top 2 and carried by the first arms 13 of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 is passed through the curved inclined walls of the curved wider portions 25 of those flaps to their respective first base members 11. These base members 11 are in turn sunken in circular cavities in the side panels 6 and 7 with the result that the forces exerted on the flaps 8 and 9 by a weight on the desk top 2 are distributed throughout the side panels 6 and 7.

This construction of the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9 each with a curved wider portion 25 protects pivot pins 14 from undue stress when heavy weights are placed on the desktop 2.

As clearly seen in Figure 12 the back panel 3 provides a support in contact with the underside of the desktop 2 and strengthens desktop 2 against bending when a substantial weight is placed centrally upon the desk top 2.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may also be employed with desk units of different design from that illustrated in Figures 1 to 7. For example, Figures 13 and 14 show another embodiment of a desk unit according to the present invention in which the side panels 6 and 7 have the same length as the width of the desktop 2. Other variations will occur to the skilled reader, for example the back panel 3 could be positioned to coincide with the back edge of the desk top 2.

The desk units so far described with reference to the drawings all have four planar members, namely the desk top 2, the back panel 3 and the side panels 6 and 7. However, the present invention also comprehends desk units which consist of a desk top, a back panel and only one side panel. An example of such a simpler desk unit is a typing desk unit 50, shown in Figures 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings as an extension of the desk unit 1 of Figures 13 and 14.

The typing desk unit 50 comprises a desk top 52, a back panel 53 and a side panel 54.

As shown more particularly in Figure 17, the desk top 52 is secured to the side panel 54 by a self-pivoting displacement flap 55 (which is similar to self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9) at a position which leaves a substantial length of the side panel 54 clear above the desk top 52 of the typing unit. The desk top 52 is thus at a lower level than the level of the desk top 2 to which it is attached by a double angle bracket 57.

The desk top 52 is foldably secured to the back panel 53 by folding elements 58 preferably similar to folding elements 4. However, the back panel 53 is secured rigidly to the side panel 54 by an angle bracket 59.

The connection between the back panel 53 of the typing desk unit 50 and the side panel 7 of the desk unit 1 is completed by a fishing 60.

Preferably, the side panels of the desk unit 1 have plinths 61 on which the side panels rest on the floor and these plinths 61 conveniently have individual height adjusters 62 at each of the four corners.

Similar height adjusters 63 (Figure 17) are provided on plinths 61 of the typing desk unit 50.

If the desk units 1 and 50 as hereinbefore described are required with drawer pedestals a separate desk drawer unit 66, as shown in front and side view in Figures 18 and 19, can be provided. This desk drawer unit 66 is mounted on castors 67 and is then wheeled into the position where it is required within the desk unit as shown for example in outline at 68 and 69 in Figures 13 and 14 or at 70 and 71 in Figures 15 and 16.

Other conventional arrangements of drawers than that shown in the desk drawer unit 66 of Figure 18 may be employed.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention herein described the planar members comprising the desk top, the back panel and one or both side panels lie compactly in adjacent planes in the folded condition, occupying virtually the minimum possible volume. The desk unit is then assembled by simple unfolding movements and the use of a screwdriver to fix the desk unit in the erected condition, preferably using screws already mounted in the desk unit, i.e. screws 22 in the self-pivoting displacement flaps 8 and 9, and screws 34 in the retractable fixing elements 29, so that no additional components need to be supplied with the basic desk unit in order that it may be erected and used.

Claims (13)

1. A furniture unit which comprises first, second and third planar members each of which is secured to at least one of the other members and which is foldable between an erected condition and a folded condition, the first, second and third planar members being in planes mutually at right angles to one another in the erected condition of the unit and lying in planes parallel to one another in the folded condition ofthe unit.

2. A fu rniture unit according to Claim 1 which is a desk unit and in which in the erected condition of the unit the first, second and third planar members constitute respectively a desktop, a back panel and a side panel.

3. A furniture unit according to Claim 2 in which in the folded condition the side panel lies between the desktop and the back panel.

4. Afurniture unit according to Claim 2 in which in the folded condition the back panel lies between the desk top and the side panel.

5. Afurniture unit according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 which further includes a fourth planar member which in the erected condition of the unit constitutes a second side panel, the third and fourth planar members constituting the two side panels lying in the same plane in the folded condition of the unit.

6. A foldable desk unit comprising a desk top, a back panel secured to the desk top by a plurality of hinges such that the back panel is movable relative to the desk top from a position in which the back panel is substantially perpendicular to the desk top to a position in which the back panel is substantially parallel to the desk top, and at least one side panel secured to the desktop by a plurality of self-pivoting displacement flaps such that the side panel may be moved from a position in which the side panel is perpendicular to both the desk top and the back panel to a position in which the side panel is parallel to both the desk top and the back panel and is spaced from the desk top by the back panel.

7. A desk unit according to Claim 6 which further comprises retractable fixing elements secured to the back panel, each retractable fixing element including a pivotally mounted arm movable between a position in which the arm lies within the thickness of the back panel and a position in which the arm is perpendicular to the back panel for fixing the back panel to the side panel in a position where the back panel is perpendicular to both the desk top and the side panel.

8. A desk unit according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which each self-pivoting displacement flap comprises a first base member located in a side panel, a second base member located in the desk top, the first member having therein a recess, a right-angle member comprising a first arm, which is pivotally mounted on the first base member and is so shaped as to be able to lie within the recess in the first base member, and a second arm which extends at right-angles to the first arm at the end of the first arm remote from the pivotal mounting of the first arm, and means securing the second arm within a recess in the second base member.

9. A desk unit according to Claim 8, wherein the first arm of the right-angle member of each selfpivoting displacement flap includes fixing means for securing the first arm to the first base member so that the side panel is held in a position perpendicular to the desk top.

10. A desk unit according to Claim 9, wherein the first arm of the right-angle member of each selfpivoting displacement flap has a wider portion with a curved inclined wall which contacts a corresponding curved inclined wall to the recess in the first base member when the side panel is perpendicular to the desk top.

11. A desk unit according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the hinges are folding elements each comprising a pair of base members located within cavities in, respectively, the desk top and the back panel, and a link member having two arm sections, one arm section being a continuation of the other arm section but displaced laterally relative to the other arm section so that the two arm sections extend in parallel directions but there is no overlap between an imaginary continuation of one arm section and the other arm section, one arm section of the link member being secured in a recess in one base member so as to lie wholly within the recess in the one base member, and the other arm section of the link member being pivotally mounted in a recess in the other base member so as to be pivotable between a position in which the said other arm section is at right angles to the said other base member and a position in which the said other arm section is received within the recess in the said other base member.

12. A desk unit according to any one of Claims 6 to 11 including, in the erected condition, a desk drawer unit comprising a cabinet containing a plurality of drawers, the cabinet being mounted on castor elements and wheeled thereon to a desired position adjacent a side panel and beneath the desk top of the desk unit.

13. A desk unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.