GB2196663A - A privacy or polling booth with writing table - Google Patents

Abstract

A privacy booth comprises a ground-engaging substantially vertical central support pillar 10 and a substantially horizontal table top 12 slidably engaged on the pillar. A plurality of upright partitions 16 extend radially from the support pillar 10, each having an inner substantially vertical edge 22 removably engaging the pillar and a lower substantially horizontal edge 18 adjacent the upper surface of the table top. Each partition further as a ground- engaging leg 20 extending downwardly at the outer end of the lower edge 18 of each partition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Privacy booth This invention relates to a privacy booth, for example a polling booth, which can be dismantled and packaged in a flat carton thereby enabling a large number of units to be easily stored, handled and transported.

Polling booths are in general use throughout the world and are invariably constructed, in many designs, from plywood sheets and wooden iaths that are assembled with tie-pieces and pegs so as to form a table-like structure which is subsequently divided into bays by placing a multiple open-sided box structure on top.

Booths of this type are variable in size and shape, usually having been constructed in each town by local carpenters, and consequently give rise to severe problems in logistics when they are required to be delivered and erected in a matter of days, or even hours, before election day. Moreover, they require the fitting skill of the carpenter during erection and dismantling and all individual pieces, such as pegs and ties, are stored separately from the plywood sheets in which they are used; such segregation destroys the efficiency concept of unit-packaging.

According to the present invention there is provided a privacy booth comprising a groundengaging support pillar, a table top slidably mounted on the pillar by means of an aperture in the table top, and a plurality of upright partitions extending radially from the support pillar, each partition having an inner edge removably engaging the pillar above the table top and an outer leg extending downwardly below the level of the table top to engage the ground.

The advantage of the invention is that the booth may be rapidly assembled and disassembled as required, and may be designed to fit into a container of the so-called flat pack type.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aluminium extrusion forming the central support pillar of a privacy booth; Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the table top which slidably engages the pillar of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows how the booth is assembled from its component parts; Figure 4 is a partial perspective detail of one of the partitions of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fully assembled privacy booth; Figure 6 shows how the partitions can accommodate telescopic stabilising members, and Figure 7 shows the privacy booth provided with curtains.

Referring now to the drawings, the booth is constructed around a substantially vertical central support pillar 10. The pillar 10 may be an aluminium extrusion, and has four longitudinal channels 11 at right angles to one another.

Such an extrusion is marketed by Porsa Limited of Denmark. A substantially horizontal table top 12 slidable engages the pillar 12, the table top 12 having a central aperture 13 which slides on the central pillar 10 and has inward projections 14 which engage in respective channels 11 of the pillar. The channels 11 of the pillar 10 have respective stop members 15 inserted therein upon which the projections 14 rest and which therefore define the height of the table top 12 on the pillar.

The booth further comprises four upright rectangular partitions 16 which extend radially from the support pillar 10. Each partition- 16 has an inner substantially vertical edge 22 removably engaging the pillar 10, upper and lower substantially horizontal edges formed by hollow frame members 17 and 18 respectively, and an outer substantially vertical edge in the form of a further hollow frame member 19. The latter extends downwardly beyond the outer end of the lower edge 18 of the partition 16 to form a ground-engaging leg 20 with an adjustable foot 21.

The engagement between the inner edge 22 of each partition and the pillar 10 is made by means of a pair of connecting studs 23 accommodated within the inner ends of the frame members 17 and 18, the studs having enlarged projecting heads 24 which slidably engage in a respective channel 11 of the pillar 10. As shown in Figure 3, during assembly the stud heads 24 are inserted into the respective channel and the whole panel 1 6 slid downwardly until the lower edge 18 rests on the upper surface of the table top 12. To avoid having to slide the panel in all the way from the top, the channel openings are widened as shown at 25 just above the table top 12.

The studs 23 are slidably accommodated within the inner ends of the frame members 17 and 18, and are secured in a given position therein. The stud heads 24 can be moved inwardly and outwardly of the members 17,18 by rotating screw threaded members 26.

Thus, once the panel is in position on the table top 12, the inner edge 22 of the panel is pushed snugly against the pillar 10 and then the members 26 are rotated to tighten the panels and pillar 10 together. The studs 23 are also manufactured by Porsa Limited of Denmark.

To provide support for the outer edge of the table top 12, the latter has four recessed members 27 on its upper surface each of which cooperates with a respective clip 28 slidably accommodated in the frame member 18 forming the lower edge of each panel 16.

During assembly, the clip 28 in each member 18 is slid outwardly so as to clear the respective member 27, but when the member 18 comes to rest on the upper surface of the table top 12 each clip 28 is slid inwardly to engage under the recess of the respective member 27 and is tightened in that position by a further screw-threaded member 29.

As shown in Figure 6, the hollow frame member 19 forming the outer edge of each panel may accommodate an upwardly extensible telescopic member 30 for engaging a ceiling so as to provide greater stability to the booth. The telescopic member 30 may be locked in any given position relative to the member 19, within the limits of its adjustment, by any conventional means.

Finally, as shown in Figure 7, for further privacy a curtain rail 31 may be provided around the booth, supported adjacent the upper ends of the outer edges 19 of the partitions 16, and carrying curtains 32.

Where the booth is used as a polling booth, a block 33 (Figure 2) may be screwed to the table top 12 between each pair of adjacent partitions 1 6 to provide anchor blocks for the cord or a pen or pencil provided for marking ballot papers.

The basic features of the booth can be varied to suit individual circumstances, and further features can be added such as flat or domed roofs with or without lighting. In the latter case, the wiring can be accommodated within the channels 11 of the support pillar 10.

Claims (10)

1. A privacy booth comprising a groundengaging support pillar, a table top slidably mounted on the pillar by means of an aperture in the table top, and a plurality of upright partitions extending radially from the support pillar, each partition having an inner edge removably engaging the pillar above the table top and an outer leg extending downwardly below the level of the table top to engage the ground.

2. A privacy booth comprising a groundengaging substantially vertical central support pillar, a substantially horizontal table top slidably engaged on the pillar by an aperture in the table top, and a plurality of upright partitions extending radially from the support pillar each having an inner substantially vertical edge removably engaging the pillar and a lower substantially horizontal edge adjacent the upper surface of the table top, each partition further having a groundengaging leg extending downwardly at the outer end of the lower edge of each partition.

3. A privacy booth as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each partition is rectangular, and has an outer substantially vertical edge of which the leg forms a downward extension.

4. A privacy booth as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the outer edge of each partition comprises a hollow frame member which accommodates an upwardly extensible lockable tei- escopic member for engaging a ceiling.

5. A privacy booth as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, further including a curtain rail supported adjacent the upper ends of the outer edges of the partitions.

6. A privacy booth as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the support pillar has a plurality of longitudinal channels, and the inner edge of each partition comprises means for slidably engaging in the channels.

7. A privacy booth as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the aperture in the table top has inward projections which slidablly engage in the channels of the support pillar, at least one channel having a stop member which defines the height of the table top on the pillar.

8. A privacy booth as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the lower edge of each partition is releasably secured to the table top.

9. A privacy booth substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A kit for making a privacy booth comprising a support pillar, a table top and a plurality of partitions adapted for assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim.