GB2137691A - Folding element - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding element comprises two base members 1 and 2 interconnected by a link member 13 having two arm sections 14 and 15, one of which is pivoted to a pin 16 in a recess 5 in base member 1 and the other of which is secured by a screw 17 in a recess 6 in the base member 2. The arm sections 14 and 15 are continuations of one another but displaced so that each arm section 14 or 15 can be contained wholly within the recess 5, 6 in the base member 1, 2 to which it is secured. In this way the two base members 1, 2, and any planar members in which the base members 1, 2 are sunk, can be pivoted between a position in which their surfaces are in close contact and a position in which their surfaces are perpendicular to one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding element This invention relates to a folding element which is adapted for use in connecting two planar members, such as boards, to one another, so that one planar member may be moved relative to the other in hinged movement.

According to the present invention there is provided a folding element which comprises a pair of base members each having a recess in a front face thereof, and a link member pivotally interconnecting the base members so that one base member may be moved relative to the other base member from a position in which the front face of one base member is perpendicular to the front face of the other base member to a position in which the front faces of the base members are parallel to and closely adjacent to one another, the link member being received within the recesses in the front faces of the two base members.

The base members of a folding element according to the present invention may therefore be sunk in cavities drilled in the surfaces of respective planar members so that the front faces of the two base members do not protrude from the surfaces of the planar members. The planar members may then be folded to a position in which their adjacent surfaces are in contact with one another.

More particularly in accordance with the present invention there is provided a folding element which comprises a pair of base members having a longitudinal recess in a front face thereof, and a link member which has 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 and the front faces of the two base members are parallel to one another and closely adjacent to one another.

A folding element according to this invention has particular application in a novel furniture unit, for example a desk unit which is folded from an erected condition in which three plantar members occupy planes mutually at right angles to one another to a folded condition in which the three planar members lie in planes parallel to one another. Such a furniture unit is the subject of our co-pending Application No. 8301916 (Case A) filed on the same day as the present application. In that application of the folding element of this invention it is used to secure two planar members which, in the erected condition of the desk unit are respectively a desk top and a back panel so that the back panel may be folded down with one of its surfaces in contact with the lower surface of the desk top.

The present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a folding element in a first or unfolded position, Figure 2 is a top view of the folding element of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the folding element of Figures 1 and 2 taken along the line A-A of Figure 2, and showing also the position of the element relative to two planar members when used to connect two planar members in folding relation to one another, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the folding element in the second or folded position in which the surfaces of the two planar members are essentially in contact with one another.

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

Referring to the accompanying drawings a preferred folding element according to the invention comprises base members 1 and 2 which are generally cylindrical in shape and which have respective front faces 3 and 4. Each of the front faces 3 and 4 of the base members 1 and 2 contains a longitudinal recess designated 5 and 6 respectively.

The cylindrical surfaces of the base members 1 and 2 have respective bevelled edges 7 and 8 where the cylindrical surfaces meet the rear faces 9 and 10 of the base members 1 and 2. The bevelled edges 7 and 8 facilitate the insertion of the base members 1 and 2 as a tight fit in cavities drilled in the surfaces of planar members 11 and 12 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

The base members 1 and 2 are pivotally interconnected by a link member 1 3 of special shape. The link member 13 has two arm sections 14 and 15, the arm section 1 5 being a continuation of the arm section 14 but displaced laterally relative to the arm section 1 4 so that the two arm sections 14 and 1 5 extend in parallel directions, but there is no overlap between an imaginary downward continuation of arm section 14 and the arm section 1 5.

The arm section 1 5 of the link member 1 3 is secured in the recess 6 of the base member 2 by a screw 1 7 which engages a floating element 18 in the base of the base member 2. Floating member 1 8 permits longitudinal movement of the arm section 1 5 of the link member 13 within the recess 6 in order that an edge 19 of the planar member 12 may abut exactly against a surface 20 of the planar member 11. When the arm section 1 5 is secured in the recess 6 in the base member 2, the arm section 1 5 lines wholly within the recess 6 in the base member 2.

The other arm section 14 of the link member 13 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 1 6 at one end of the longitudinal recess 5 in the base member 1. As may be clearly seen in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the link member 1 3 is mounted on the pivot pin 1 6 in such a way that the laterally displaced arm section 1 5 is displaced in a direction away from the open length of the longitudinal recess 5 in the base member 1.In the position of the link member 1 3 shown in Figure 3 the arm section 1 5 is thus effectively stepped over that part 21 of the front face 3 of the base member 1 which lies between the end of the recess 5 at which the pivot pin 1 6 is located and the nearest part of the cylindrical wall 22 of the base member 1.

As shown in Figure 3, the link member 13 of the arm section 14 is at right angles to the front face of the base member 1, and thus at right angles to the base member 1 generally. The arm section 14, and the whole link member 13, is pivotable on the pivot pin 16 to the position shown in Figure 4 in which the arm section 14 is received substantially entirely within the longitudinal recess 5 in the base member 1.

In the position shown in Figure 4 with the arm section 1 4 received substantially entirely within the longitudinal recess 5, the front faces of the base members 1 and 2 are parallel to one another and closely adjacent to one another. Provided that the base members 1 and 2 are sunk entirely within cavities drilled within the planar menibers 11 and 12, the surfaces of the planar members 11 and 12 which are adjacent to one another in the position of the folding element shown in Figure 4, may be in continuous surface contact with one another.

Thus the folding element in accordance with the present invention enables two planar members, such as boards or panels, to be folded from a position in which the boards or panels are perpendicular to one another to a position in which the boards or panels are in as close contact to one another as if they were two unconnected boards or panels resting one upon the other.

The base members 1 and 2 are retained in position in the cavities in the planar members 11 and 12 by the use of screws (not shown) in the screw apertures 23 and 24 in the respective base members. Additionally the base member 1 to which the link member 13 is pivoted has another retaining screw 25 passing through the floor of the longitudinal recess 5 into the planar member 11 at an oblique angle to the rear surface of the base member 1.

Preferably the two arm sections 14 and 1 5 of the link member 13 are so constructed that the imaginary downward continuation of the arm section 14 is spaced from the arm section 1 5.

Conveniently the base members 1 and 2 and the link member 1 3 are all constructed from a steel such as ZAMAC.

The folding element of the present invention has particular application in a folding desk unit as described in our co-pending Application No.

(Case A) where it is used as the connection between the two planar members or boards which comprise respectively a desk top and a back panel.

Claims (8)

1. A folding element comprises a pair of base members each having a recess in a front face thereof, and a link member pivotally interconnecting the base members so that one base member may be moved relative to the other base member from a position in which the front face of one base member is perpendicular to the front face of the other base member to a position in which the front faces of the base members are parallel to and closely adjacent to one another, the link member being received within the recesses in the front faces of the two base members.

2. A folding element which comprises a pair of base members having a longitudinal recess in a front face thereof, and a link member which has 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 and the front faces of the two base members are parallel to one another and closely adjacent to one another.

3. A folding element according to Claim 2 in which the other arm section of the link member is pivotally mounted on a pivot member located near one end of the recess in the other base member and the said one arm section of the link members displaced laterally relative to the other arm section so that the said one arm section is stepped over that part of the front face of the said other base member which lies between the end of the recess at which the pivot member is located and the nearest part of a peripheral wall of the base member

4. A folding element according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the said one arm section of the link member is secured in the recess in the said one base member by screw means engaging a floating element retained in the base of the said one base member.

5. A folding element according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 in which the arm sections of the link member are so constructed that the said imaginary continuation of one arm section is spaced from the other arm section.

6. A folding element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base members are each substantially cylindrical in shape and each have a bevelled edge contacting the cylindrical surface of a rear face of the base member.

7. A folding element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the front faces of the two base members are substantially in contact with one another when the front faces are parallel to one another.

8. A folding element constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.